Novel Drug Targets in Neuro-immune Disorders

Neuro-immune disorders are mediated through the immune system damaging the central and peripheral nervous systems. Several such disorders are diagnosed in different age groups and are mainly linked to autoimmune damage or infections. Persons with a compromised immune system, familial history, and environmental factors are the primary cause of these disorders. Based on the pattern of pathological lesions in the nervous system, neuro-immune disorders are either monofocal or multifocal deficits. Some examples of neuro-immune disorders are optic neuritis, neuromyelitis optica, multiple sclerosis, encephalomyelitis, etc. Currently, there are conventional approaches for treating these disorders where antimicrobials and psychotropic drugs such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and psychostimulants are widely used. These agents benefit the patients by reducing infections and inflammations in the nervous system and relieving neurobehavioral symptoms. Research on various drug targets is in progress to find out better and safer therapeutics to control these disorders. Newer drug targets that control the inflammation and/or provide neuroprotection are taken into a priority to develop newer drugs for neuro-immune disorders. Such drug targets are the glutathione system, SIRT1 pathway, Th17 cells, neuropeptide Y, toll-like receptors, and tryptophan catabolites which are discussed in this book chapter.